Twitter

While at first glance Twitter may appear to be a simple blog engine, it has a number of features that gives it the potential to be a powerful tool. It's purpose is simple - keeping a group of friends or associates up to date on what you're doing. You can write a simple sentence, or an elaborate paragraph. Part of it's appeal is that you can do it from anywhere - the twitter website, via email, via instant message, or with your cell phone.

Twitter will allow you to keep your status up to date, and you can configure it to text you when your friends change their status - all from the comfort of your cell phone. It is extremely easy to use, and takes only a minute to sign up and make your first post.

One feature of Twitter that truly stands out is the Twitter Tracker. This feature allows you to specify a specific term, and every time someone mentions that term in their updates, it is sent to you. From there, you can find out more information about that user, and follow their future or review their past updates.

It was when reading about this feature that I began to see its potential in the Intel Community. Picture an internal version of Twitter. Every analyst has a profile, and every day posts what they are working on. Other analysts working on similar projects will receive an alert. The analysts can then, if they choose, communicate with others working in that specific area to share their findings. Its a simple idea, but one that could have major effects on the way that information gathering and analysis is done.

Do you have a Twitter account? What are your favorite features, and can you see its principles implemented in the IC? Like always, I love receiving your comments and ideas.